Children in Leeds ‘more satisfied’ with life than average English child

A new survey asked 11-16-year-olds to give a score on how satisfied they felt with their life, with one being the lowest and 10 the highest. In Leeds, the average score was 6.6 in 2018-19 – slightly above the average of 6.5.

The average score across Yorkshire and the Humber was 6.5, but more than one in five gave scores of less than five – representing an estimated 80,000 children.

The findings, from the Sport England Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, pre-date the pandemic and were analysed by The Children’s Society. The report highlighted an overall fall in the wellbeing of young people and the charity fears the pandemic will exacerbate this. It wants the government to introduce a national measurement of children’s wellbeing and said local strategies could include introducting drop-in emotional health hubs.

Chief executive Mark Russell said: “It’s heartbreaking to learn that even before Covid so many children in Yorkshire and the Humber felt dissatisfied with their lives, that they lacked purpose and were feeling unhappy at the time of this survey.”

When asked how happy they felt the day before the survey, children in Leeds gave an average score of 6.3, compared to 6.4 across the country. Nationally, school and their personal appearance were the aspects most children were unhappy with. When asked how worthwhile their lives were, Leeds had a score of 6.4, compared to the average 6.6.

A DfE spokesman said: “Our £8 million Wellbeing for Education Return programme is helping education staff respond to pressures by providing training and support to local schools and colleges via councils.”